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Weekend Series Preview: Braves @ Phillies, 8/28-8/30


The Braves (67-60) visit Philadelphia for what promises to be a wet 3 games series with the Phillies (73-52) this weekend. The Braves are in second place, tied with the Marlins, 7 games behind the Phillies. Read on, for pitching match ups and other key notes for this series.


Friday, 7:05pm. Tommy Hanson (9-2, 3.12 ERA) vs. Pedro Martinez (2-0, 5.14 ERA). Hanson is celebrating his 23rd birthday on Friday and has won his last 4 starts while posting a 2.81 ERA in those games. Hanson, the rookie, has not faced the Phillies yet. The Phillies have won all three of Pedro's starts this season. The Phillies have averaged more than 7 runs of support for Martinez in those games.

Saturday, 7:05pm. Derek Lowe (12-8, 4.48 ERA) vs. Cliff Lee (5-0, 0.68 ERA). Lowe is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in two starts against the Phillies this year. In his career, Lowe is 3-0 with a 1.61 ERA and .180 batting avg. against in 4 regular season starts at Citizens Bank Park. Raul Ibanez, Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino are a combined 8-for-64 (.125 avg) with 2 homers against Lowe. Both homers belong to Raul, and those are his only two hits against Lowe in 22 at bats. Lee won his only career start against Atlanta back in June of 2004. Lee has allowed just one earned run in his two starts at Citizens Bank Park as a Phillie. Garret Anderson is a career .412 hitter (7-for-17) against Cliff Lee with no homers and 5 RBI.

Sunday, 8:05pm. Jair Jurrjens (10-8, 2.91 ERA) vs. Joe Blanton (8-6, 3.88 ERA). For some reason, the smarty pants guys at ESPN think the nation wants to see a second prime time Sunday night game between the Braves and Phillies this month, and the third of this season. Not only does the nation not want that, but neither do Phillies phans. Keep the games scheduled during the day, please. Anyway, Jurrjens is 3-2 with a 2.57 ERA in 7 career starts against the Phillies. This season, Jurrjens is 6-0 against the NL East in 10 starts with a 1.79 ERA! Blanton is winless in 5 career starts against Atlanta with a 6.58 ERA. Blanton is 5-3 with a 3.98 ERA at home this season, through 13 starts. Brian McCann is 6-for-13 (.462 avg) with 2 homers in his career against Blanton.


Chipper Jones has more homeruns against the Phillies (42), in his career, than he does against any other team.

Rafael Soriano has a 1-1 career record with 4 saves, a 1.35 ERA and a .111 batting avg. against in 14 games against the Phillies. Soriano has never blown a save against Philadelphia.

Matt Diaz is batting .619 (13-for-21) in his last 5 games.

Brad Lidge has a 0-1 record, with 14 saves, 3 blown saves, and a 5.79 ERA in 32 career games against the Braves. Opponents are batting 101 points higher against Lidge in 2009 than they did in 2008.

Shane Victorino against Atl in 2009- 12 games, .184 avg, 0 homers, 5 runs.
Shane Victorino against Atl in 2008- 18 games, .338 avg, 3 homers, 15 runs.

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